Financial Assurances: Fixing What Is Not Broken?

Thursday, May 27 / 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Host: AEA Technology, Project Performance Corporation, BNA, and The Horinko Group

Featuring: Michael W. Steinberg, Senior Counsel, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

Introductory Remarks: Marianne L. Horinko, President, The Horinko Group

Washington, DC (May 19, 2010) – Financial Assurances: Fixing What Is Not Broken? is part of a webinar series on sustainability and climate change hosted by BNA and AEA Technology/PPC Corporation, in collaboration with Marianne L. Horinko, President of The Horinko Group and former EPA Acting Administrator.

Financial assurance for environmental remediation has become a cutting-edge issue. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is stepping up enforcement of its existing regulatory framework, and developing far-reaching new rules under Section 108(b) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The policy debate is intensifying over the adequacy of the current financial assurance mechanisms and their effectiveness at protecting the taxpayer.

Michael W. Steinberg, Senior Counsel, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP will explore the legal and policy issues at the heart of these related developments. The program is designed to help you:

  • Learn about the origins of the current U.S. EPA regulatory framework
  • Identify the financial assurance mechanisms currently permitted
  • Gain insight about EPA enforcement of the current framework
  • Analyze key issues in the policy debate over adequacy of the current framework
  • Understand the implications of ongoing rulemaking under CERCLA

Michael W. Steinberg is Senior Counsel in Morgan Lewis’ Litigation Practice. Mr. Steinberg’s practice focuses exclusively on environmental law matters, with special emphasis on litigation and counseling involving (1) hazardous waste issues under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, (2) contaminated site issues under the federal Superfund law, and (3) environmental justice issues under federal and state civil rights laws.

Mr. Steinberg has dealt with federal and state environmental law, with an emphasis on litigation, for more than 20 years. Before he rejoined the Firm in 1987, he was Assistant Chief of the Environmental Defense Section at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he supervised and handled litigation against EPA under all of the federal environmental statutes.

Mr. Steinberg served as a law clerk to Judge Alfred L. Luongo of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

AEA is a leading energy and climate change consultancy, delivering visionary, integrated environmental solutions worldwide. AEA acquired Project Performance Corporation (PPC), a $60 million Washington, D.C.-based government consulting firm in 2009. PPC is also contributing to the series through expert speakers and presenters. Visit them online at www.aeat.co.uk and www.ppc.com.

BNA is the leading independent publisher of print and electronic news and information for professionals in business and government, producing more than 300 news services, including the highly respected Daily Environment Report, International Environment Reporter, and Daily Report for Executives. Visit BNA online at www.bna.com.

Contacts

Brendan McGinnis, The Horinko Group
202.955.5580
bmcginnis@thehorinkogroup.org

Mary Ann Grena Manley, BNA
703.341.3724
mgrena@bna.com